Refrigerating apparatus



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W. H. L INDQUIST REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 17, 1922 2-Sheets-Shea'. l

HTrok/l/Ey Newo 25, 1924. LSHJM W. H. LINDQUIST REFRIGERATING APPARATUSFiled Feb. 17, 1922 2 Shania-Shawn 2 L "mkg hr' g go i V l sym/mowW/LL/AM H L//VDQl//5T A Trang/Vey Patented noises, 1924.

WILLIAM IIIALMAR Iaiaiiouis'r, or-V Ba'roima, Naw

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS.

,la T'E JERSEY.

Appiioauan'niea February iv, i922. 'serial iro. 537,201.

To all 'whom a may concern: Be itl known that I, WILLIAM HJALMARLiNnQUis'r, a citizen of 'the United States, residing at Bayonne, countyof Hudson, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Refrigerating Apparatus, fully described and representedin the following specification and the 4accompanying drawings, forming apart of the same. A, f.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularlylto that type of, refrigerator adapted for household use.

I am aware that many machines have been rvdesigned' purporting to meetthe requirements of the sm-all consumer but such machines have been sodesigned and constructed as to necessitate the remployment of numerousmechanical parts, comparatively complicated piping arrangement and aplurality of valves. Machines as heretofore vconstituted ma have provedentirely efficient when ten ed by an expert operator or `engineer. It isobvious however that an apparatus intended for domestic use must beconstructed to give vefficient service and at the same time avoidrel-atively complicated mechanism which may demand the exercise of .morethan ordinary skill on the part of the operator.

u My invention therefore contemplates anapparatus constructed with aview to simplici'ty and one in which the various elements are soarranged and associated as to` brin the management of the apparatuswithin the range of ability of a person possessing ordinary intelligencealthough lacking in technical knowledge pertaining to refri eration. I

efri rating apparatus of the character to whic my mvent-ion relatesemploys a compressor in whicha lubricant such as glycerine is used. Great difliculty has heretofore been experien'bed in preventingl thislubricant from entering the system.

I overcome the above mentioned difl'culty; in my apparatus, by animproved type of separator which permits the as to pass into thecondenser but arrests t e progress of the lubricant and effects itsremoval or return to the compressor.

Another important feature of my p-aratusis the disposition of a checkvalve in the line of circulation and between the expansion chamber andthe compressor.

' The employment of the said valve prevents the lubricant from backinginto the expansion chamber when the apparatus is shut down and apressure exists in the condenser. By the embodiment yof the ,abovementioned and other features together with the elimination of valves andthe simplicity ofI construction of my device an apparatus is providedwhich will operate in an efficient and practical manner at a very lowmaintenance cost. l

In tests made by an apparatus constructed according` to my invention Ihave found that a minimum amount of personal attention 1s necessary andany that ma be required is of 'a nature within the a ility of theaverage individual.

An object of my invention, is therefore, to provide an apparatus of theabove mentioned character which is of a simple construction and adaptedJfor domestic use and household service.

Another object is to provide an apparatus in which lubricant or otherforeign matter is prevented from entering the condenser o'rrefrigerating system.` e

:The above mentioned and other objects will be apparent (from thefollowing description and y `reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:-

Fig. 1 is a fragmenta View of my apparatus taken in vertica section,through the supporting structure, the condenser, expansion valve and ex-ansion chamber.

JFig. 2 is an extern elevational view of a refrigerator embod ing myinvention.

Fig. 3 is a sectiona view of the apparatus taken on line III- I II-indicated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the separator taken on line IV-IV inFig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a transversasection of theseparator taken on line V-V in Fig.3, and Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the separator taken on lineVI-VI in Fig. 3. l

My apparatus comprises the usual elements necessary toefl'ec'refrigeration by meansI of absorption through the employment ofan suitable yvolatile medium as ethyl-chlori e or the like. l

compressor and expansion chamber, I provide a separator by means ofwhich any lubricant carried by vapor is returned to the compressor.Between the expansion cham, v

ber and the compressor I provide meansl to prevent lubricant fromentering the said chamber.

Referring Anow to the drawing, the aparatus illustrated as oneembodiment of m invention includes a compressor, indicate as a whole bythe numeral 5, a condenser 6, an expansion valve 7, (see Fig. 1) and agrid or expansion chamber 8. Theseelements are suitably supported by arefrigerator structure mdicated as a whole by the numeral 9 and whichmay be of suitable proportions for household use. v

A refrgeratin compartment may be disposed adjacent t e expansion chamberand thereby be cooled by absorption of heat therefrom by the brine fromwhichthe heat is in turn absorbed during the vaporization of the fluidin the' expansion chamber.

The grid 84 which constitutes the container for the volatile li uidconsists of upper and lower horizontal eaders 14 and 15 respectively.These headers are connected by vertical tubular members 16. The upperheader is provided with an outlet 17 for the passage of the vap'orthrough plpe 18.

(See Fig. 3.) The vapor passes through av check valve 19 when thecompressor 5 is actuated and thence into an oil and gas separatingchamber 21 and into the condenser 6. The purpose of the chamber 21 willbe hereinafter more fully described.

Inl the present inventlon air is employed as the cooling medium forcondensing the vapor and any suitable means may be utilized to efect themechanical circulation of air about the condenser tubes or a naturalcirculation may be used.

In the drawing a fan 22 is employed for the mechanical circulation ofair. This fan is secured to a shaft 20 carried in a bracket 22', and isprovided with a pulley 23. The fan may be driven by any suitable sourceof power and as illustrated it is connected by a belt 23' to a pulley onthe shaft 24' of a motor 24, which motor also `drives a rotary member inthe compressor 5. It will be appreciated that considerable advantage isderived by utilizing a single motor "for the two above mentionedpurposes and that. the

initial and maintenance cost of the apparatus is decreased and thateconomy of space is attained. After the vapor has been condensed thecondensate or liquid flows into the eX- pansion or float-valve 7 whichis provided with an aperture or outlet 25 through which the liquid maypass into a supplemental passage 26 and thence through pipe 27 and intoa lower inlet 28 'of the grid 8 thus making a complete cycle.

The grid 8 is preferably enclosed in a casing or tank 29 which maycontain any suitable heat conducting medium, brine being preferable, asuitable inlet 30 being provided for vits introduction. If desirable aplurality of chambers 3l may be disposed 'within the casing and incontact with the brine on three sides thereof. The front or ends beingprovided with a suitable refrigerator door` to permit the disposition ofwater pans 32 within the chambers 31 for the production of a supply ofice for table or other use.

Referring to the compressor 5, a com'- pressor of any suitable type maybe employed to act as a heat pum to cause the heat carrying iuid to passo into the condenser.

The compressor for this purpose is of a Well known type and as shown inthe drawing may be briefly described as comprising a casing 35 having acylindrical bore 36 in which the shaft 24 is disposed. A cylindricalmember 37 is secured to the ,haft eccentrica'lly and positioned .aboutthe said member is an annulus 38 in which radially reciprocable blades39 are disposed and adapted to make contact with the wall of the casing35. The blades are maintained in contact with the casing throughouttheir movement by the engagement of their inner ends with the member 37.As the shaft rotates, the blades, in cooperation with the wall of thecasing, form pockets which carry successive sections of vapor anddischarge them into the separator chamber.

In a compressor of this character it is necessary, in order to providean efficient seal, to fill the casing with a lubricant such as glyoerine'or other viscous substance and it has been found diilicult to keep thisvlubricant from entering the condenser.

When lubricant is permitted to enter the system the various passagesfinally become choked preventing the necessary free circulation of Huid.

It is an advantage therefore to provide a meansv for separating thelubricant from thc vapor, prior to its delivery to the condenser by thecompressor. In the present invention a separator is provided comprisingthe chamber 21 in which an axially disposed tubular member 41 isprovided and connected with the compressor by a nipple 42 which affordscommunication for the vapor from the expansion chamber to the saidmember which is provided with a plurality of apersys tures -43 for thepassage 'of the vapor into Stood i that the combined areas of theapertures 43 is less than the internal cross sectionalarea-of the member41. more complete separation may, however, produced by the properdisposition of a plurality ofannular bathe-plates 44 which are. arrangedaround the member 41 and 1n the path of the discharged iiuid. Thus an1mpingement of the fluidupon the baille-plates is effected, and theheavier particles .of the lubricant momentarily adhere to the plates andthen fall to the lower portion of the chamber and are led to thecompressor by a by-pass in the form of a pipe 45.

The initial filling of lubricant necessary for the operation of thecompressor is introduced through an aperture in the side of the chamberupon the removal of a screw plug 46 and the lubricant enters the com-ypressor'through the by-pass 45.

The chamber 21 is divided into two compartments by a transversepartition 47 which also constitutes the upper portion of the tubularmember 41. provided with apertures 48 through which the vapor- 'passesand thence throu h an outlet 49 and into the condenser.V s an addedimpedence to any particles of lubricant which may enter the uppercompartment of the chamber 11, I provide a screen or filter 51 in theoutlet 49. f

It will be appreciated that my separator not only provides a tortuouspassage for the vapor, intermediate the compressor and the condenser,but also provides means for accelerating the movement of the gases byvirtue of the restricted outlets 43 Ifrom the condenser tubes is member41 into the chamber 11. An4 elimination of such matter as wouldotherwise cause a decrease in the efficiency of -the roduced.`

Then the machme has beenshut down, after operation, a pressure exists inthe condenser which tends to force the lubricant through the pipe 18 andinto the expansion chamber with the result that each termi,-

nation of operation a deposit of viscous substance enters the chamberand in time renders it inoperative for eilicient circulation. In orderto avoid this disadvantage I provide means in the form of a check valve19. The condensate which forms in the condenser is controlled by thefloat or regulat-or valve 7 which comprises a casing 52 in which isdisposed a oat 53 having an arm 54 pivoted' in the usual manner on pin54'. The arm is provided with a stem 56 which seats upon and closes theaperture when the liquid in the casing 52 is below a given level. v

WVhen the liquid rises the float moves upwardly and the stem 56 raisesand opens the valve to permit a iow of liquid,through the pipe 27 andinto the expansion chamber.

This partition is 58. The chamber 57 entering the tubular member 41Although the float valve illustrated may be of any given construction Imayprovide a suitable chamber 57 incorporated therewith, for the moreconvenient initial introduction of the volatile liquid employed in thesystem. This liquid as for instance, ethyl-chloride is led into thechamber 57 through an aperture 58 which is normally closed by a screwplug 59. The liquid then passes through the pipe 27 and intotheexpansion chamber.

It will be understood that durinci the introduction of the initialsupply of .liquid to the system that no liquid is contained in thecasing 52 andq that the aperture 25 is closed.

.By the provision of the chamber 57 it is more convenient to introduce aliquid to the system, Afurthermore, I provide the chamber with a tocollect any particles of foreign matter that may be contained in thecondensate as it Hows to the expansion chamber 8 during the operation ofthe machine.

In practice a volatile iuid such as ethylchloride or the like isintroduced into the expansion chamber through the aperture through 'theinlet 30.

1 The system having been charged, thc

Imotor 24 is startedl and the compressor creates a vacuum in thev grid 8causing a rapid volatilization of the refrigerant. The usual physicalactions .then follow, the volatilization of the fluid effects anabsorption of heat from the brine which in turn absorbsheat from'itsenvironment which includes the chamber constituting the refrigerator.

The volatilized fluid or vapor passing through the compressor carriesminute quantities of lubricant. This vapor upon within the separatorchamber 11 is discharged through the restricted apertures in said memberand consequentl the rate of flow of the va r is increase to suchvelocity that it stri es the baille lates which serveI to overcome theinertia of the particles of lubricant which then fall to the lowerquiescent portion .of the chamber. The vapor, however, resumes vits pase upwardly and enters the condenser, whi e the removed lubricant pocket61 which serves as a trap namely combines with portion of the chamber21-v and the compressor through the by-pass 45.

The vapor having assed into the condenser. i's cooled and iquifiedeither by a natural circulation of air oir-by4 the me-` chanicalcirculation of air distributed by the fan 22.

The condensate or casing 52 of the float valve 7 until a suiicientaccumulation of li uid causes'the iloat 53 to rise permitting t e liquidto escape through the aperture y from whence it passes through thechamber 57 via pipe 27 and into the grid 8 which completes the cyclenecessary for continuous refrigeratlon.

The recess or pocket 61 in the chamber 57 serves to entrap suchparticles of foreign matter as may be contained in the condensate as itasses throu h the chamber 57.

rIt will Rae, noticed t at my apparatus is unique in its absence ofvalves other than the check valve and float valve. -No hand valves areincluded and an important feature of my invention resides in theelimination of hand valves which, in an apparatus for domestic use,constitute a source of uncertainty in the mind of an inexperiencedoperator. Furthermore where hand valves are employed there is always atendency on the part of the layman to manipulate such valvesexperimentally to the detriment of continuous or eilicient operation ofthe apparatus.

Although my inventionI has been shown and described 1n its preferredform, it will be understood that various changes ma be made in thearrangement and details o the various parts constituting the completeapparatus without departing from the invention and it is to beunderstood that all such changes and modifications may be made thelubricant in the lower without departing from the spirit and scopefinally enters of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerating apparatus having an upper and lowercompartment, acondenser comprising a continuous tube disposed in coiled formationabout the inner walls of P said upper compartment a compressor eleliquidflows into the ment, a separator element positioned above and incommunication with said compressor element, said separator also being incommunication with said condenser, a check valve laterally disposed withrespect to said compressor and 1n communication therewith, a motor fordriving said compressor, said compressor, separator, valve and motorbeing disposed within said condenser coil, and an expansion chamber insaid lower compartment and in communication with said compressor.

2. A .refrigerating apparatus having an upper and lower compartment, acondenser comprising a continuous tube disposed in coiled formationabout the inner walls of said upper compartment, a compressor element, aseparator element positioned above Vand in communication with saidcompressor element, said separator element also being in commun1cat1onwith said condenser, a check valve laterally disposed with respect tosaid compressor and 1n communication therewith, a motor for driving saidcompressor, and a fan fory causing a circulation of air, connectionbetween said fan and said'motor to drive the former, said compressorseparator, valve, motor and fan being disposed within said condensercoil and an expansion chamber in said lower compartment and incommunication with said compressor.

In testimony whereot` I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM HJALMAR LINDQUIST.

